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#TopReads2024 continues with my July pick
👵🏼👵🏼⛵️🌲🌳☀️ “Fellowship Point” is one of those books that have stuck with me and I still think of it fondly. The characters were so vivid and lifelike that I thinks that‘s why, they felt like genuine friends. Plus, the setting reminded me so much of my summer trips to northern Wisconsin growing up, so there‘s that too 🥰 Definitely a great summertime read!

This book came to me exactly when I needed it to. Reading it felt like wrapping up in a dry, sun warmed beach towel after running onto shore from swimming in a lake 🥰😌 It‘s a chunkster and it‘s definitely literary in its writing, but the writing is so perfect it was a joy to read. This is one of those books I‘ll recommend but it‘s not one you can pressure anyone to read. When it‘s time, it‘ll find them. It ain‘t over yet ♥️

I had a lovely Fourth of July break, it seems like it‘s been over a week since I last worked but it‘s only been since Thursday lol This is a nice way to ease back into the week ahead 😎📖🍹I hope you are all enjoying a nice Sunday too!

A thick novel about a long friendship between two women. Set mostly in coastal Maine, the women, now in their 80s have their ups and downs but stay connected over their lifetimes. Switching between time periods and perspectives, Fellowship Point emphasizes friendship—the point is literally fellowship. I liked it but I admit one storyline was a bit too unbelievable for me, in such a practical book. Also, it‘s longggg.

Finished the tagged book and loved it. Now on to the rest! #BookSpinBingo

Spanning decades this is the story of Agnus & Polly‘s friendship. Through the ebb & flow of life‘s biggest moments & smallest routines we see them lean on each other & deal w/the realities of aging & exploring the idea of who really knows us. Nothing much seems to happen, but all of life is packed into this book.

“Polly thought the lack of concern for her appearance helped Agnus be certain in other ways. Prettiness is a distraction for everyone.”

amoung top books of 2023! so well written. explores key themes about family, friendship and feminism. a must read!

Correction to my #BookSpinBingo list for July. Realized I had two books listed twice! 😳😜

I just couldn't get into this one at all. While the writing is lovely, there are just so many uneeded sections that didn't really seem to contribute to the overall story and made it really long winded, wandering in a way, personally, could not keep me engaged. I would have loved more of Agnes, the independent, salty writer and her new young editor and maybe it's there but I was almost 40 % of the way through and wasn't compelled to keep going.

I‘m going to have to sit with this book for a while before I can decide how I feel about it, but on the whole, I think I really liked it. The writing is beautiful and I really enjoyed hanging out with these characters.

I haven‘t been able to stop thinking of this book, and I finished it weeks ago. The language, characters, and setting are beautifully constructed. All of the small moments that make up a marriage or a friendship add up to complex relationships. The book is long and slow-paced, but it is rich and layered. The story of two life long friends approaching the end of life may sound sad, but it is so worthwhile.

This had too much going on in it... While all of the various stories were interesting, I was just overwhelmed with everything that was going on. For me, the best storyline was Agnes and her writing career - I would have really loved to focus on just that.

I really wanted to love this one but I just can‘t. There are some wonderful things—an elderly main character (who is fabulous), a focus on a long-standing friendship, an exploration of women‘s opportunities. But, ultimately, there are too many storylines and not enough editing. By the end, I just didn‘t care anymore.

Tuesday #bookmail! I have very high hopes for this new release. I guess it is supposed to read more like a classic nineteenth-century novel which sounds wonderful to me. Plus, Ann Patchett raved about it on last week‘s The Laydown Diaries!

Agnes and Polly‘s Maine comes to life, providing a setting rife with memories for the pair of octogenarians to reflect upon. I loved the unique perspective of women who refuse to be pushed aside, even though everyone is trying to minimize them as they age. Unveiling Agnes‘s secrets provides momentum, but the highlight here is the thoughtful depiction of a lifelong friendship between women who know each other better than they know themselves.

Thanks to the people at @SimonSchuster @simonbooks for gifting me a review copy of Fellowship Point. As part of the #SSBookclub I offer my unbiased opinion.Though this story is set in the early 21 century and some parts in the 1960‘s the author‘s prose felt very old fashioned. A long winded story of two women, now in their late 80‘s raised in white privileged Philadelphia & Maine. Polly & Agnes are best friends who carry each other‘s secrets. 👇🏼

Goal today is to finish this book before April 1 and #ThingsInCommon begin 😁

Moody Reader stack 2! Trying to find my next read….Tagged book is an #ARC from the wonderful people @SimonSchuster @simonbooks #SandSBookClubFavorites